Patient costs for urodynamic testing.

Abstract

Urodynamic investigations are not completely standardized. However, the number of exhibits of urodynamic equipment at urologic meetings by commercial firms suggests that these studies have considerable applicability and relevance to everyday practice. Investment by a urologist in equipment for urodynamic testing should be cautious in the light of the costs for these investigations reported from centers in Canada, the United States, and Western Europe. The figures suggest that sophisticated urodynamic testing is not a screening test -- it is too expensive, but large urodynamic laboratories appear to charge only for a portion of the actual cost of such testing. Since urodynamic testing is much more expensive than actual patient charges, it is probably not yet cost effective in its present state of development.